Today, on my Lemond BA, I was riding down a slight incline on a MUP, going right at 20 mph, thinking I was going along just fine.

Then without any notice, I see this hybrid passing me on the left, pedaled by a lady just going lickety-split, followed by a man (her husband?) also passing me on a hybrid.

Here I am, all folded up in a road bike position, and here they are, sitting as upright as you will ever see someone, going by me as if I was standing still. And these were not spring chickens, either.

This pair didn't slow for curves, nor for what I consider to be blind corners - nope, they just pedaled on through at top speed.

OK, I increased my speed a bit, and managed to stay behind them and to gain on a slight hill. No need to pass, as I was nearing the end of my ride, and was to turn off the trail shortly.

Think back carefully, Dnvr. As you recall, isn't it really that you felt great compassion for those hybrid types and so let them have their brief moment of glory....letting them believe they could actually pass a tucked down, take no prisoners roadie-demon. Now, isn't that what really happened? Of course it is. And we BFPlussers, the last Knights of the Tarmac, applaud you for keeping up our noble tradition.

So you see, nothing to forgive. Still, next time, you can stomp the cr*p out of them.

Think back carefully, Dnvr. As you recall, isn't it really that you felt great compassion for those hybrid types and so let them have their brief moment of glory....letting them believe they could actually pass a tucked down, take no prisoners roadie-demon. Now, isn't that what really happened? Of course it is. And we BFPlussers, the last Knights of the Tarmac, applaud you for keeping up our noble tradition.

You see, nothing to forgive. Still, next time, you can stomp the cr*p out of them.

More seriously, reaching 60 this year made me publicly acknowledge that on group rides with younger people, generally I'll be the first to crack when the pace goes up and gets sustained. (Partly because I have less tolerance [pigheadedness?] for sustained pain for no other reason than save-my-macho.) Anyway, the saving consolation is that, after all the miles over the years, I have a mature person's patience, emotional and physical, and can ride on and on-- albeit slower. Tortoise/hare stuff.

As the muscle tissue fades, it seems the brain material becomes denser [I think that's that what I wanted to say?].

I think the sham is that you even cared about it, many of your posts speak of just getting out there and riding your own ride. Now we know the truth, when passed you throw a few more coals on the fire and hold your own. Your road to forgiveness is a rigourous training regime to max out your speed - we insist that you blow these old farts away as if THEY were standing still. Post your training plans so that we may all critique adnausium.

I think the sham is that you even cared about it, many of your posts speak of just getting out there and riding your own ride. Now we know the truth, when passed you throw a few more coals on the fire and hold your own. Your road to forgiveness is a rigourous training regime to max out your speed - we insist that you blow these old farts away as if THEY were standing still. Post your training plans so that we may all critique adnausium.

I am and was torn between upholding the honor of the 50+ Forum and my principles of riding, which are basically "I don't give a d***".

This is a conundrum for which I may need to seek professional counseling, or at least some advice from our resident guru and Freudian specialist, Digital Gee, who I notice has not appeared in this thread.

Perhaps he is figuring out his fees for the advice I need to be able to hold my head proudly up in honor of BOTH my principles and the 50+ forum.

Please remember that these folks showing off their bicycling skills were likely in their early 40's, which makes their transgressions even more egregious.

I have something like that come up almost every week. I live out in the country in a small sub division and it is all hills and speed pumps. I started riding 6 months ago after a 35 year lay off. I had a big heavy Schwinn and the kids would all come out and blow me away. I very soon switched over to a vintage Giant and kept up my riding every other day. After a month only two guys in there late teens would come out to ride with me and try and blast away from me.Now none will try and leave me behind. I moved to a lighter vintage Centurion and no one will challenge me any more. My neighbor told me the kids all say watch out for that old guy.I am 67 and one off these guys is real fast and he could beat me if he had a good bike. Ain't it fun.
EddyR

Please remember that these folks showing off their bicycling skills were likely in their early 40's, which makes their transgressions even more egregious.

That's OK - today I rode with one of my biking buddies, he is in his mid 40's, he brought along one of his biking buddies (also less than 50). I knew I was going to be in trouble, typically this friend will push me but still hold back a little. I knew the other guy was a hammer head. Well I stayed with them until the big hill came, they climbed a lot better, they did wait for me at the top - probably no more than a few minutes. I was able to hang with them for the rest of the ride though. I did over hear one of them say during the ride that he had just clicked over 4000 miles for the year, I doubt I have 2000 this year. I guess miles count as well. So I get stomped by the under 50 set on a regular basis, I doubt I will change that.

My friend, the former TdF racer in his mid 70's, still cruises along on his 50's 10 speed classic, faster than most folks on the trail, and certainly faster than I. He is built like a bicycle racer - thin bones, small, must weigh about 120 lbs. But, I don't seem to have the same energy level I used to have. Oh well, I console myself that few, if any, folks my age in this neighborhood can do a 40+ mile ride, in addition to a 3 mile fast walk almost every morning, along with an almost daily weight lifting routine.